The demands of the 21st century have placed different, stringent criteria on the senior managers in the workplace. The leading culture in the core of Rio-Carb DNA, is safety, carbon-saving, productivity and local manufacture. These are, above all else, remain at the forefront of stakeholder’s concerns. The Rio-Carb liners fulfill all these criteria, in one product for the mining industry, namely in R-C700 design. Due to its long-life properties, carbon-saving when recycle and safety, ensure that it enters the New Norms 21st century.
The R-C700 design has achieved harmony between safety and productivity, with the use of stud welding and the Rapid Release Liner Fastening System. The inclusion of hard-faced M16 bolts enables a ‘one man’ dismantling/liner removal operation from outside the chute, as opposed to the conventional chute design which carries inherent dangers to the staff inside the chute during changeouts. The long-life aspects of the R-C700 product requires less maintenance and downtime requirements than other materials, increasing productivity.
Rio-Carb brings more to the “Made-in-the RSA” table by achieving the SABS certification number ‘LCM5’ for local manufacture. Design that has the end-consumer in mind, unique to Rio-Carb, is their SMARTCHUTE concept that assists constomers in achievinng their ISO14001 points. This is welcomed f by designers of mining equipment to incorporate ISO14001 requirements, thus minimising the factors that negatively affect the environment, and enhancing compliance with applicable laws and standards. “Design houses are taking particular notice of these properties as a dominant feature in their presentation to their customers.
In terms of Local manufacturing” comments Jabulile Mlambo, a Director of Rio-Carb, and “now that “we are producing our R-C700 plate locally, it enhances expansion of our processes by local manufacture.” Another development is the adoption of their SMARTCHUTE® offering, whereby the life-costing of a component is incorporated into the design of the optimum wear-resistance of the material for the exposed area, ie heavy sliding abrasion areas in R-C700, 400-500 in th lesser abrasive zones, and Rio-Carb Austenitic Impact plate for direct impact areas.
In the words of their Zander Van Rooyen, Mechanical Engineer, “We have unique and interesting products to offer, permeating from the top down. We welcome the opportunity to consult in a profession manner, to incorporate the features in a ‘one-size-fits-all’ product.”